Effects of Redesigned Model Eliciting Activities on Seventh Grade Students’ Mathematics Success and Students’ Views about These Activities

In this study, the effects of redesigned modeling activities on the academic achievement of 7th grade students and the student’s view about these activities were investigated. We use explanatory sequential mixed method design that is one of the mixed research methodology for this investigation. The quantitative part of this research established according to semi-experimental study with pre-posttest, and qualitative part of this study execute with the case study. Quantitative data were collected with multiple choice academic achievement tests, and qualitative data were collected with study papers, observation forms, forms of student’s view, and semi-structured interviews at the end of all activities. The quantitative data were analyzed with covariance analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis. As a result, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the experimental group on the academic achievement which influenced by modeling activities. This difference has been influenced by the presentation of the learning environment in which the students' attitudes and beliefs towards themselves and the lessons will be positively affected, and mathematical skills will be supported to increase success

The Effect of the Instruction Based on Van Hiele Model on The Geometrical Thinking Levels of Preservice Elementary School Teachers

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the instruction based on Van Hiele Model on preservice teachers' the geometrical thinking levels. This study has been carried out with senior students attending to the Elementary School Teaching Program. There were eight classes of senior preservice teachers, two of them were randomly assigned as experimental groups which were instructed with Van Hiele Model and the other two were randomly assigned as control groups which were instructed with traditional instruction. Based on the analysis of the data, findings will be discussed and some recommendations will be presented. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.WoSScopu

A FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGNING COMPUTER ASSISTED CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING ACTIVITIES 1

Constructivist learning approaches emphasize student’s active involvement during learning process by engaging them with meaningful activities. The interest on alternative tasks, which give the most of control to the students in order to increase their participation and to provoke divergent thinking, has recently significantly increased. Hence, it is very important to devise appropriate tasks from closed tasks with strict rules to flexible open-ended tasks in order for students to build their knowledge and to improve their metacognitive skills. Promoting and implementing open-ended tasks require much more effort and time than widely used traditional drill-and-practice learning tasks. In addition, alternative tasks need to be carefully designed around the conceptual features of the domain such as mathematics by taking its specific knowledge into consideration. Well-designed tasks could enhance students’ abstraction of mathematical concepts and procedures. Current computer technologies as educational tools give us the opportunity to integrate such tasks to the learning setting. Computer assisted math activities may provide an interactive environment where students could pose and solve their own problems to form connections between mathematical concepts and operations, and get immediate feedback about their actions. A few computer based activities aiming to teach mathematical concepts and procedures such as digit value and permutational calculations were developed. In this paper, the guidelines to design such computer assisted activities will be discussed and developed computer based activities will be presented

Time-course changes of nLDL-induced erectile dysfunction.

Hyperlipidemia is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis and is frequently seen in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). This study was designed to evaluate whether the acute effect of native low-density lipoprotein (nLDL) on intracavernosal pressure (ICP) is reversible and related to plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), endogenous inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels and eNOS expression in cavernous tissues. Hyperlipidemia was induced by a single dose of intravenous 4 mg kg(-1) nLDL. Experiments were performed 72 h (72H), 2 weeks (2W) and 8 weeks (8W) after nLDL injection. Endothelium-dependent relaxations, the ratio of ICP to mean arterial pressure (MAP; ICP/MAP), plasma ADMA levels and eNOS mRNA and protein levels were evaluated. The ICP/MAP ratio decreased in both the 2W and 8W groups. Endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to acetylcholine in the rat thoracic aorta were damaged in the 8W group. Plasma ADMA levels increased in the 8W group. mRNA expression of eNOS decreased in a time-dependent manner, whereas the protein expression increased. These results suggest that acute nLDL injection-induced impairments in erectile functions during an 8-week period are irreversible and might be related to an increase in ADMA levels and changes in the regulation of the eNOS/NO pathway

Pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing: a review from VascAgeNet

Vascular ageing, characterized by structural and functional changes in blood vessels of which arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are key components, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. As the global population continues to age, understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate vascular ageing becomes crucial for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge on pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing, highlighting key strategies and promising therapeutic targets. Several molecular pathways have been identified as central players in vascular ageing, including oxidative stress and inflammation, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cellular senescence, macroautophagy, extracellular matrix remodelling, calcification, and gasotransmitter-related signalling. Pharmacological and dietary interventions targeting these pathways have shown potential in ameliorating age-related vascular changes. Nevertheless, the development and application of drugs targeting vascular ageing is complicated by various inherent challenges and limitations, such as certain preclinical methodological considerations, interactions with exercise training and sex/gender-related differences, which should be taken into account. Overall, pharmacological modulation of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as hallmarks of vascular ageing, holds great promise for improving cardiovascular health in the ageing population. Nonetheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the efficacy and safety of these interventions for clinical translation

Pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing : a review from VascAgeNet

Abstract: Vascular ageing, characterized by structural and functional changes in blood vessels of which arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are key components, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. As the global population continues to age, understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate vascular ageing becomes crucial for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge on pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing, highlighting key strategies and promising therapeutic targets. Several molecular pathways have been identified as central players in vascular ageing, including oxidative stress and inflammation, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cellular senescence, macroautophagy, extracellular matrix remodelling, calcification, and gasotransmitter-related signalling. Pharmacological and dietary interventions targeting these pathways have shown potential in ameliorating age-related vascular changes. Nevertheless, the development and application of drugs targeting vascular ageing is complicated by various inherent challenges and limitations, such as certain preclinical methodological considerations, interactions with exercise training and sex/gender-related differences, which should be taken into account. Overall, pharmacological modulation of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as hallmarks of vascular ageing, holds great promise for improving cardiovascular health in the ageing population. Nonetheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the efficacy and safety of these interventions for clinical translation